Category Archives: harmonic analysis

Practicing knotty piano passages, and tips on how to avoid fatigue while boosting technique (Videos)

Posted on January 28, 2012 by

At my You Tube Channel site, I routinely pick up comments daily, and the majority center on piano technique. While I lay no claim to being an expert in this complex universe, my trial and error practicing over decades has … Continue reading →

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A dreaded, Killer Middle Section of a Chopin Nocturne and How to deal with it. (F Major, Op. 15, No.1) VIDEOS

Posted on January 23, 2012 by

The way I handle fear is to meet it head on, working through my dreaded moments. It’s the same for a killer section of music that’s marked con fuoco, “with a combination of force and speed.” The metronome marking is … Continue reading →

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Playing through the entire Bach Fugue, BWV847 in C minor, fleshing out form as I go along (VIDEO)

Posted on July 5, 2011 by

The score is copied below the video: http://www.teoria.com/articulos/analysis/BWV847/index.htm RELATED: Analysis of Fugue in C minor, BWV847: Subject, Counter-subject I and II, Exposition, Episodes (Development) Recap subject, etc. http://arioso7.wordpress.com/2011/07/04/piano-instruction-analysis-j-s-bach-fugue-in-c-minor-bwv847-videos/

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Memorization at the piano: How to improve your skills

Posted on June 17, 2011 by

Memorization should be a natural outflow of consistent, thoughtful practicing. Thoughtful is underscored because it’s the most important ingredient in the process of playing a studied piece without music. It means having mental assists that relate to mapping out a … Continue reading →

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Early Intermediate Piano Repertoire: One of my favorite pieces to teach and play, J.C. Bach’s Prelude in A Minor (Video)

Posted on June 15, 2011 by

Randall and Nancy Faber come through with flying colors by including J.C. Bach’s Prelude in A minor in their Developing Artist Series Album, Early Intermediate Level. (Playing the Haddorff piano with its honey-dipped tone) This particular composition, sounding Baroque, but … Continue reading →

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Piano Lesson: W.A. Mozart Rondo Alla Turca: Allegretto from Sonata, K.331 (Videos)

Posted on June 6, 2011 by

In my instructional video, I discuss how Mozart’s light-hearted Rondo is formed and ways to practice it. (The Rondo has a redundant “A” section, interspersed with contrasting B, C, D, etc. musical material) There’s a dualism of “A” minor/”A” Major … Continue reading →

Posted in Classical period sonata, classissima, harmonic analysis, Journal of a Piano Teacher from New York to California, Mozart, Mozart Rondo Alla Turca, Mozart Sonata K.331 in A Major, New York City High School of Performing Arts, New York University, Oberlin Conservatory, pianist, piano, piano instruction, piano lesson, piano lessons, piano pedagogy, piano tutorial, Piano World, pianoaddict.com, Pianostreet.com, pianoworld, pianoworld.com, playing piano, publishers marketplace, publishersmarketplace, publishersmarketplace.com, Shirley Kirsten, Shirley Kirsten blog, Shirley Smith Kirsten, Steinway grand piano, Steinway M grand piano, Teach Street, teaching piano, Theory, W.A. Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, word press, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Schumann’s Scenes of Childhood: Layered learning, No. 1 “Of Foreign Lands and Peoples” (5 videos/5 parts)

Posted on May 16, 2011 by

Just as I parceled out voices in the opening of Schubert’s Impromptu in Gb Major, Op. 90, I’ve done the same with Robert Schumann’s “Of Foreign Lands and Peoples” from his Kinderszenen (Scenes of Childhood) In both these works Romantic … Continue reading →

Posted in 19th Century music, harmonic analysis, mind body connection, music appreciation classes, music teachers association of california, musical inspiration, musicology, New York City, New York City High School of Performing Arts, Oberlin, Oberlin Conservatory, pianist, piano, piano addict, piano instructor, piano lessons, piano pedagogy, piano practicing, piano repertoire, Piano Street, piano teacher, piano teaching repertoire, piano technique, piano tutorial, Piano World, pianoworld, pianoworld.com, playing piano, publishersmarketplace, publishersmarketplace.com, Romantic music, Schumann Kinderszenen, Teach Street, teaching piano, technique, video performances, whole body music listening, word press, wordpress.com, you tube, you tube video | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Piano Instruction: Using the wrist to taper phrases

Posted on May 14, 2011 by

I’ve always believed that it’s not enough to rely on fingers, or finger action alone, to play the piano expressively. For me, enlisting the wrist, and rolling into notes, especially those that are shaped down at the conclusion of phrases … Continue reading →

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How long should a piano student stay with a piece?

Posted on May 12, 2011 by

As a teacher, I’ve often pondered this question, concluding that there are varying answers which depend on the advancement and motivation of individual students. Certainly no fixed formula addresses the length of time a pupil needs to fully realize his … Continue reading →

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The Piano Universe of Discussion Boards, Digital Feedback, and Self-analysis (Video)

Posted on April 24, 2011 by

I love to scan the Boards at Piano World, UK Forums, Piano Street, Piano Addict, and other stop-off points such as My Music Life Blogspot and Color in my Piano to get a feel for the concerns of piano students … Continue reading →

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